Mbabane, Eswatini — In just five months, 39 people have taken their own lives across Eswatini, painting a deeply troubling picture of a growing mental health crisis.
Among them was an 11-year-old boy from Lulakeni, whose body was discovered by his father last Saturday morning. The child had hanged himself from a tree.
His death is part of a wider surge in suicide cases that has shaken communities. Police say the tragedy is not isolated — suicides are rising across all age groups, with teenagers and young adults increasingly at risk.
A new report from the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), covering the period between 25 December 2024 and 31 January 2025, has revealed a grim pattern: 104 suicide cases were reported in just over a month. Of these, 39 occurred in the last 20 weeks alone.
“Most of the victims were men, many facing family struggles, poverty, or mental health problems,” the report notes.
A Deepening Crisis
Police data shows that Manzini recorded the highest number of suicides — eight in total — followed by Lubombo and Hhohho. Poisoning remains the most common method, followed by hanging and, to a lesser extent, drug overdose.
Experts say the reasons behind this rise are complex. Unemployment, debt, family conflict, and untreated mental illness are key factors.
Dr Thulile Simelane, a clinical psychologist based in Mbabane, warned: “The numbers are alarming. We’re seeing more young people, some as young as 11 or 13, dealing with emotional burdens they shouldn’t carry alone.”
She added, “We urgently need open conversations, proper counselling in schools, and access to community support before more lives are lost.”
A 2020 study by the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre linked suicide in Eswatini to rising financial hardship, substance abuse, and a lack of social support.
Hidden Pain, Silent Loss
The deaths are not only statistics. They leave behind grieving families and unanswered questions.
In Matsapha, a man found his 22-year-old brother hanging in a shack. He had no known mental health diagnosis, but relatives said he had become withdrawn in recent weeks.
The National Library and Media (NLM) recently published research showing that older people, particularly men aged 45–60, are also at high risk. Their isolation and silence often go unnoticed until it is too late.
The study also found strong links between suicide and childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.
A Call for Action
Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) said the rise in suicides should prompt urgent change.
“Survivors of abuse need long-term care, not just rescue,” said SWAGAA spokesperson Zanele Mabuza. “We must invest in healing, not just policing.”
She added that alcohol abuse and untreated trauma continue to fuel the crisis, especially among young men.
The REPS report concluded with a call for better outreach, especially in rural areas. “We cannot treat suicide as a private family matter,” one officer said. “These are public tragedies.”
